break my bones

i wish you would throw that fist
instead of those words
so that, at least i could wear them -
be marked like cain
for whatever sin
calls for this punishment
that kill like poison,
buries me without a name.

formula x

Formula X, premiered at the Kenya International Film Festival 2008 and is now available on dvd in most Nakumatt supermarkets.

The story revolves around the possession of a vaccine for the HIV virus. In what is intended to be a high tension situation, fighting for the possession of 'data' about the vaccine. Frank the scientist and Juma the criminal take turns holding the power/gun, relaying, along with Lisa and Cindy (Frank's wife and secretary cum mistress) their personal backgrounds.

Ironically, Juma's character appears to be the most developed. His motive is clear and his actions are consistent with his character. Frank's relationship with both his women however appear untenable.

Several dialogues could be more succinct and several actions more realistic; like the criminal who instead of breaking into the house fumbles with keys??

While the musical score is fitting at times, it can also be equally distracting. There are several good oblique angle shots but the hand held ones are noticeably shaky.

Does it push a moral? no. Is it sufficiently entertaining? Just about.

Genre: Drama/Thriller
Writer & Director: Steve Ominde
Starring: Peter King, Nice Githinji, Melvin Alusa, Gabriella Mutia
Critic's rating: **

laughter is the best medicine

i don't tell a lot of people but i'd like to do stand-up :) i'd like to do cartooning too (but i can't draw).

so this was the process by which i came upon communitychannel.

i sign out of yahoomail and find a video on yahoonews of miles or something asking tina baker to the prom on national tv. sounds sweet. but the video doesn't show up properly when i click on the link. so i decide to youtube it. youtube doesn't have it. but it does have shia laboeuf lol. so i youtube shia laboeuf and also check out the comedy section of videos. i find nat;



awesome!! i think this'll be my daily dose of pick-me-up :p

les petits enfants du siecle

so i'm reading my first book in French (an easy reading version :p) and i'm finding it absolutely charming!

Christiane Rochefort writes with a sensitivity for the nuances of childhood, the fragility of girlish hopes and thoughts... (to be continued)

Friends of The Arts Show 19 - 24/3/10

ISK hosts FOTA's Art Show 2010 from Friday 19th - Wednesday 24th March. The range of artists, mediums and styles are varied. From the established to the new, from older works to newer ones.

Particular artists that stood out for me included;

Barbara Minishi, for her black and white photograph/art;
www.barbaraminishi.com

Andrew Kamiti, for his astute attention to detail with pencil;
www.andrewkamiti.com

Samuel Githui, for one of his oil on canvas paintings for its unique pespective;
samuelgithui@yahoo.com

Patrick Mukabi, for the exuberance of his colour and contours in his 'Mama Safi' series;
patmuky@yahoo.com

Peter Ngugi, for his clean lines and shape of animals in the 'Swara series';
ghosemanii@yahoo.com

Otieno Gomba for his creative take on pesa;

likewise Opondo Wycliffe with his 'Fresh Got 4 sel';
w_opondo@yahoo.com

Dennis Muragori for his funky wood and metal sculptures;
dennismurr@yahoo.com

John Kamicha for his acrylic on lesso;
jkamicha@yahoo.com

Fitsum Behre Woldelibanos whose mixture and boldness of colour i usually love only had two paintings on display;
www.fitsumart.com

Danda Jaroljmek's glasswork was a pleasure to see,

and equally, Xavier Verhoest's mixed media on textured paper pushes the purpose/meaning of abstract

Feelings and Voices

Anuang'a staged another fusion of choreography at Alliance Francaise on the 5th March, 2010. This time mixing contemporary dance with Maasai dance and vocals. I was curious to see his art after the much acclaimed Indo-Maasai fusion number.

But I found little meaning to "Feelings and Voices". I didn't find spectacular form or expression. If the Maasai vocals, mentioned to be prayers and songs, held any significance, then it wasn't conveyed. If there was a story, it was loosely strung as more a thread of activities than a showcase of affecting dance.

The second number however, a repeat of a 2nd prize winning dance in a competition 10 years ago was an entertaining and feel-good end to the evening.

excerpts from toni morrison's speech at the PEN/borders literary service award 2008

"truth is trouble...

the alarm, the disquiet writers raise is instructive because it is open, vulnerable. because if unpoliced, it is threatening...

when chaos resists, either by reforming itself or rebelling against imposed order violence is understood to be the most frequent response and the most rational when confronting the unknown, the catastrophic, the wild, the wanton, the incorrigible. rational responses may be sanctured, incarceration in holding camps, prisons or death, sanely or in war...

writers who construct meaning in the face of chaos must be nurtured and must be protected. and it is right that such protection be initiated by other writers. and it is imperative not only to save the beseeched writers but to save ourselves...

certain kinds of trauma visted on people are so deep, so cruel that unlike money, unlike vengeance, even unlike justice, the rights or the goodwill of others, writers can translate such trauma and turn sorrow into meaning, sharpening the moral imagination...

a writer's life and work are not gift to mankind. a writer's life and work are its necessity...

need to be angry

i want to be angry
i want to chastise a man before reason claims me
i want the satisfaction of reclaiming myself
before becoming sad
i want to be angry
i need to be angry

supposed to be a woman

You agreed unknowingly –
A long time before the touch.

They never tell you

That defiance

Or curiousity

Or compassion

Equates consent –

Only punish you
For not acting like a woman

Only prohibit you
So that you act more like a woman

So when they venture
To impress upon your person

Any girl wonders
Like they blame her for;
Whether it is her fault.